2015 ORU RECIPIENT BECKY’S TROOP CARE PACKAGE PROJECT

Stearns Electric is guided by a set of principles that influence our business decisions and ensure that actions are in the best interest of our members, which means we should be a responsible member of the community and do all we can to meet the needs of those who live in our service territory. Becky’s Troop Care Package Project was a recent recipient of funds from the Stearns Electric Operation Round Up Program. See below to learn more about how Becky Carlson’s project is impacting our community.

Becky Carlson lives in a cozy St. Cloud home, full of memories from soldiers that have served and continue to serve our country. Each room is full of items that remind you of those that gave up their lives to serve and protect us. “Everything I have, all the passion and love, goes into the Troop Care Package Project and Emergency Help Fund for families of deployed American soldiers. I don’t think there is a single place in my house that doesn’t remind you of the service,” Carlson said. “After all, they are the individuals that keep us safe.”

When asked about her project and why she sends packages to people she has never met, Becky says, “I was only 14 years old when I lost my brother in Vietnam. It is truly a pain greater than any other to lose a loved one, and I just wanted to honor and show my appreciation to the soldiers that are giving up their lives to defend our freedom. It is all about them, not me – I just do so little.”

Since 2003, this St. Cloud wife and grandmother of six, has been sending care packages filled with familiar foods, comfort items and messages of appreciation to American troops overseas. For the past 12 years, Carlson has been fundraising, organizing, and assembling items to ship to the troops. Every month she packs 20 boxes in her home. Each box contains a handwritten letter of thanks. Decks of cards, nuts, candy, breakfast bars, Kool-Aid, and crackers are popular gifts. “I like to include that I know are easy for soldiers to put in their pockets and take into the field. And while some items are seasonal, a box never leaves without life savers and beef jerky,” Carlson added.

“Preparing packages is a big project and it usually takes me about 40 hours or more a month to put them all together. I never leave an inch of a space in the box. Every corner is filled up with something – even if it is just a tootsie-roll; every spot has to be filled,” Carlson said. In her handwritten letters Carlson always asks for any special request from the soldiers. “One time I had a solider request a can of tuna and a can of chicken in his Christmas package, so I made sure to include that when I sent his next package. It’s such a small gesture but it means so much and makes my packages personal.”

During the Christmas season, Carlson quadruples the amount of packages she mails. During this busy season, her friends and extended family pitch in. “Last Christmas, we sent 292 packages. I had help from three wonderful women and my grandchildren - but it still took us five 8 hour days to pack all the boxes,” she said. In addition to caring for soldiers themselves, Carlson also adopts families of deployed soldiers during the holidays. Last year alone she adopted eight families. “The beauty of this is that the families don’t know they are adopted until we show up at their front door with gifts for the kids and dinner for the family.”

Each package with postage costs about $40. To keep up with the cost of the program, Carlson’s effort is funded by donations and an annual fundraiser. “There are so many people that honor the program and are involved; businesses and private donors regularly contribute cash and goods. The Civil Air Patrol, Girls Scouts, school children, and my grandchildren help me.

Stearns Electric has also been a tremendous supporter and is one of the names that come up quite frequently when I write my letters. I do this because I want soldiers to know that Stearns Electric, among others, is part of making this possible. The funds I receive from the Operation Round Up Program go a long way to help fill those boxes.”Carlson said, “I am fortunate to have so much help from Stearns Electric and if anyone at the Cooperative has anyone knows someone oversees, I would really like to have their names - I would be honored to send them a package.”

Carlson regularly receives thank you cards, photographs and gifts as appreciation for the packages she sends. Many times, once soldiers return, they even travel to visit Becky. She noted that when some soldiers have been deployed three to four times, they’ve grown close like family, some even call her mom. “One of the most meaningful letters I have received, came from a soldier that made a special request for a couple of rare items – he thought he had me on a mission, one I would not be able to complete. After receiving the items he requested, he wrote me to say that when you honor somebody, you go to the fullest,” Carlson shared. “It is heart touching to know you’re making a difference in the lives of our service men. It has been a true privilege.”

Throughout the years, Carlson, has received an Army Achievement Medal, given awards from the city of St. Cloud, been nominated and recognized by the KARE 11 “Elven Who Care” program, and served as a leader on the Family Readiness Group (FRG).

If you’re interested in learning more, donating or volunteering to help Becky Carlson with her Troop Care Package Project and Emergency Help Fund for families of deployed Americans soldiers, contact Becky Carlson at (320) 656-0391.

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Through the Operation Round Up® (ORU) program, Stearns Electric Association gives our member-owners the opportunity to give back to the community. Since the program’s inception in 1993, ORU and Stearns Electric members have awarded over $1.6 million to local non-profit organizations and community service programs.More than 70 percent of Stearns Electric Association members participate in ORU by allowing the Cooperative to round up their monthly electric bill.

The rounded up funds (between 1¢ and 99¢) are placed in a trust fund that is administered by a trust board appointed by the Cooperative's elected Board of Directors. Operation Round Up® funds are given to local civic organizations and worthy causes through an application and selection process. The trust board uses special guidelines and policies in choosing recipients.